- Categories:
- Cultural
- Tags:
- Cultural HolidaysFestivities
- Where:
- Indonesia
- Date change rule:
- Every June 1
- Holiday emoji:
- 🌾
Gawai Dayak lights up the calendar every June 1 and 2, celebrating the vibrant culture and successful harvest of the indigenous Dayak people across Borneo. This annual festival is a time for thanksgiving, feasting, and cultural performances, uniting communities in Sarawak, Malaysia, and West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Immerse yourself in the traditions, learn about Dayak customs, and support indigenous heritage.
Want to sponsor Gawai Dayak? Learn how
Expected Gawai Dayak Deals
As a significant cultural and harvest festival, Gawai Dayak’s commercial activity centers on supporting local Dayak artisans, cultural preservation efforts, and community-based tourism. While we don’t anticipate widespread commercial sales from major international retailers, look for special promotions from local businesses in Sarawak and West Kalimantan. These might include discounts on traditional crafts, textiles like Pua Kumbu, and indigenous foods. Organizations like the Dayak Cultural Foundation and Sarawak Tourism Board often highlight local businesses and cultural experiences. Consider supporting initiatives that empower Dayak communities directly. We will update this page with confirmed live deals and cultural events as June 1 approaches.
Platform Guide for Gawai Dayak
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #GawaiDayak. Share vibrant photos and reels of traditional attire, longhouse celebrations, and cultural performances.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #GawaiDayak. Post about the history and significance of the festival, engaging local communities.
YouTube
Subscribe to @NationalToday for holiday video content. Create or share videos showcasing traditional Dayak dances, music, and the preparation of festive dishes.
Gawai Dayak Hero
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History of Gawai Dayak
Gawai Dayak marks the end of the harvest. The festival aims to honor and respect the hard work behind the harvest. It takes about four to five months to grow a grain of rice, for example, and we don’t often think about the importance of rice. The festival also represents the unity, aspiration, and hope of the people of many ethnic groups such as the Iban, Bidayuh, Kenyah, Kelabit, and Murut.
The Dawak people prepare for the festival in a grand manner. On the days leading up to it, everyone will be busy tidying up, grave visiting, paddy drying, milling and collecting, and preparing food. Men and women may wear ‘nigepan,’ the traditional costume. The party doesn’t start until someone beats the gong, when midnight strikes on June 1, to call the celebrants to attention. The festival chief will lead everyone to drink the Tuak — a locally-brewed rice wine — for long life.
Everyone will wish each other “gayu-guru, gerai-nyami,” which translates to “long life, health, and prosperity,” and the celebration becomes less formal with people dancing to traditional music while others sing ‘pantuns,’ or poems. The celebrations vary from place to place. In the towns and villages, they hold pre-Gawai Dayak in May ahead of the arrival of people living in the city.
Gawai Dayak timeline
The locals recognize Gawai Dayak as a religious and social occasion.
The British colonial government recognizes Dayak Day.
A Betong native hosts the first Gawai Dayak celebrations at his home in Siol Kandis.
Gawai Dayak becomes a public holiday after the formation of the Federation of Malaysia.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Gawai Dayak
Local businesses in Sarawak and West Kalimantan can honor Gawai Dayak by decorating their premises with traditional Dayak motifs and offering special menus featuring authentic Dayak cuisine like *manok pansoh* (chicken cooked in bamboo) and *tuak* (rice wine). Retailers can stock genuine Dayak handicrafts and textiles, ensuring fair compensation for artisans. Organizing cultural performances or workshops on Dayak traditions can also engage customers and support cultural preservation efforts.
Gawai Dayak FAQs
When is Gawai Dayak?
Gawai Dayak 2026 begins on Monday, June 1, and concludes on Tuesday, June 2. This two-day festival is a time for thanksgiving and cultural celebration for the Dayak people.
What is the significance of Gawai Dayak?
Gawai Dayak is primarily a harvest festival, giving thanks for a bountiful rice harvest and praying for prosperity in the coming year. It also serves as a celebration of Dayak unity, culture, and traditions, reinforcing community ties.
How is Gawai Dayak celebrated?
Celebrations typically begin on the evening of May 31 with rituals like *Miring* (offering ceremony) and the drinking of *tuak* (rice wine). On June 1, open houses (*ngabang*) are held, where friends and family visit, feast, and enjoy traditional music and dances.
Where is Gawai Dayak primarily celebrated?
Gawai Dayak is mainly celebrated in Sarawak, Malaysia, where it is a public holiday, and in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is a significant event for the indigenous Dayak communities living in these regions of Borneo.
Gawai Dayak Activities
Join the celebration
The best thing you can do to celebrate Gawai Dayak is to join the celebrations. This is your chance to plan a trip to Malaysia with friends and family to experience the festival.
Learn Ngajat
One of the amazing ways you can celebrate Gawai Dayak is by learning Ngajat, the unique traditional dance of the locals. Learn some of the moves and rock them in celebration of this special day.
Enjoy the treats
Gawai Dayak is a harvest festival in which wine, sweets, and other treats are abundant. Make some room in your belly to indulge in these treats.
5 Cool Facts About Gawai Dayak That You Probably Don’t Know
Rice wine flows at the festival
The local rice wine, Tuak, is an important tradition during the festival.
There are special sweets too
Special sweets like ‘sarang semut,’ ‘cuwan,’ ‘kui sepit,’ and ‘penganan iri’ are famous during the festival.
The unique Ngajat
Male dancers wearing large feathers will perform a unique dance called ‘Ngajat.’
A beauty pageant
During the festival, a beauty pageant is held to choose the festival’s king and queen.
Cock fighting
The celebration also includes cock-fighting and blowpipe matches.
Why We Love Gawai Dayak
It celebrates the people
Gawai Dayak is not just a harvest celebration festival. It is a festival that celebrates the sweat, time, and effort of the farmers who work hard to provide food for the whole nation.
It spreads positivity
Gawai Dayak is a positive holiday that not only aims to spread positivity. It also helps raise awareness about the effort behind bringing food to our table and their sacrifice.
It celebrates new beginnings
Gawai Dayak gives us the perfect opportunity to welcome a new beginning. We welcome the new harvest season and bid a grand farewell to the old harvest season.
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